Autism symptoms in anorexia nervosa: a comparative study with females with autism spectrum disorder

Kerr-Gaffney, Jess; Hayward, Hannah; Jones, Emily J. H.; Halls, Daniel; Murphy, Declan; Tchanturia, Kate

doi:10.1186/s13229-021-00455-5

Molecular Autism

Table 3 Proportion of participants endorsing each ADOS-2 item (non-zero scores)

From: Autism symptoms in anorexia nervosa: a comparative study with females with autism spectrum disorder

	AN (n = 64) (%)	REC (n = 46) (%)	ASD (n = 41) (%)
Language and communication
A1. Overall level of non-echoed spoken language	0	0	0
A2. Speech abnormalities^†	20^a**	13 ^a**	46 ^b**
A3. Immediate echolalia	2	2	0
A4. Stereotyped/idiosyncratic words or phrases^†	22	20	17
A5. Offers information	31	30	29
A6. Asks for information	72	80	85
A7. Reporting of events	33	44	42
A8. Conversation^‡	34	33	59
A9. Descriptive gestures	42	30	59
A10. Emphatic or emotional gestures^‡	52 ^a**	28 ^b**	73 ^a**
Reciprocal social interaction
B1. Unusual eye contact^‡	23	13	37
B2. Facial expressions^‡	44	39	66
B3. Language production and linked nonverbal communication	19 ^a**	13 ^a**	64 ^b**
B4. Shared enjoyment	32	33	39
B5. Communication of own affect^‡	42	26	42
B6. Comments on others’ emotions/empathy	44 ^ab**	24 ^b**	66 ^a**
B7. Insight into typical social situations/relationships^‡	28	17	42
B8. Responsibility	11 ^a**	4 ^a**	37^b**
B9. Quality of social overtures^‡	16 ^a**	11 ^a**	54 ^b**
B10. Amount of social overtures/maintenance of attention	30	33	49
B11. Quality of social response^‡	16 ^a**	20 ^a**	66 ^b**
B12. Amount of reciprocal social communication	33	41	61
B13. Overall quality of rapport^‡	27 ^ab*	20 ^b*	49 ^a*
Creativity
C1. Imagination/creativity	39^a**	33 ^a**	78 ^b**
Stereotyped behaviours and restricted interests
D1. Unusual sensory interest^†	48^a*	30^ab*	17^b*
D2. Hand and finger and other complex mannerisms^†	20	22	10
D3. Self-injurious behaviour	2	0	0
D4. Excessive interest in specific topics or repetitive behaviours	13	9	22
D5. Compulsions or rituals	13	9	5
Other abnormal behaviours
E1. Overactivity/agitation	7	10	5
E2. Tantrums, aggression, negative or disruptive behaviour	0	0	2
E3. Anxiety	20	24	27

ADOS-2, autism diagnostic observation schedule, 2nd edition; AN, anorexia nervosa; ASD, autism spectrum disorder; REC, recovered anorexia nervosa
Different superscripts indicate significant differences (< .01) between groups
^*p < 0.01; **p < 0.001
^†Restricted and repetitive behaviour subscale items
^‡Social affect subscale items

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ISSN: 2040-2392

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